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The Brothers Karamazov (1958)

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Average Rating: 4.7/10
Reviews Counted: 9
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 6

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 1

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User Ratings: 479

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Movie Info

Dostoyevsky's novel The Brothers Karamazov is given a Hollywood screen treatment by producer Pandro S. Berman and director Richard Brooks. Yul Brynner plays Dmitri Karamazov, a callous Russian officer who cuckolds his domineering father (Lee J. Cobb) with the old man's mistress Grushenka (Maria Schell). Richard Basehart is Dmitri's intellectual brother Ivan, while William Shatner is the pious Alexey Karamazov; both men eventually enjoy the attentions of the willing Grushenka. The Karamazovs'

Unrated, 2 hr. 27 min.

Drama, Classics

Directed By: Richard Brooks I

Written By: Richard Brooks

In Theaters: Jun 1, 1957 Wide

MGM Home Entertainment

The Brothers Karamazov Trailer & Photos

Cast

Yul Brynner
Dmitri Karamazov
Maria Schell
Grushenka
Claire Bloom
Katya
Lee J Cobb
Fyodor Karamazov
Richard Basehart
Ivan Karamazov
Albert Salmi
Pavel Smerdyakov
William Shatner
Alexey Karamazov
Judith Evelyn
Anna Hohlakov
Edgar Stehli
Gregory
Harry Townes
Ippoli Kirillov
Miko Oscard
Illusha Snegiryov
Frank de Kova
Capt. Vrublevski
Jay Adler
Pawnbroker
Gage Clarke
Defense Counsel
Ann Morrison
Marya
Mel Welles
Trifon Borissovitch
Simon Oakland
Mavrayek
David Opatoshu
Capt. Snegiryov
Diana Quick
Ernst R. von Theumer
Clare Higgins

Critic Reviews for The Brothers Karamazov

All Critics (9) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (3) | Rotten (6)

Bold handling of crude unbridled passion, of violently conflicting ideas, and of earthy humor makes up The Brothers Karamazov.

April 8, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety

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Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

Conspicuous assets are the striking color photography and the musical score, both of which help a great deal in enhancing the drama's savage and soulful moods.

March 25, 2006 Full Review Source: New York Times

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Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Top Critic

While not as terrible as his subsequent adaptation of Lord Jim, this 1958 Hollywoodization of the Dostoyevsky novel by writer-director Richard Brooks is pretty grotesque all the same.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

I would avoid this film as readily as one avoids Siberia.

September 4, 2009 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

The film feels like 'Classics Comics' instead of a classic.

April 8, 2008 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

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TV Guide's Movie Guide

Very uncertain in period and atmosphere, and saddled with some terrible performances.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

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Tom Milne

Time Out

When the acting's good, it's very good, but when it's bad, it's laughable and director Brooks' attempts at injecting Slavic intensity misfire badly sometimes.

May 24, 2003 Full Review Source: Film4

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Film4

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Audience Reviews for The Brothers Karamazov

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The 1958 movie is an affront to Dostoyevsky. Richard Brooks butchered the plot. Instead of a philosophical drama showing the consequences of nihilism: no god, no moral law, everything is permissible. Brooks turned the movie into a childish morality tale about money. Yul Brynner and Claire Bloom held my attention.

August 31, 2009

Louis L

It is lavish and well made, it has a fine cast and excellent production values but it also bored me, and it is tediously overlong and drawn out.

November 3, 2008

James Higgins

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